The al-Qaeda striptease

In the Asia Times B. Raman gives us the rundown on the show Pakistan has been putting on for the Bush administration. A total of 14 acts so far, each timed to distract from some event the administration would prefer us not to hear too much about. There are still some al-Qaeda "targets" backstage so expect a few more acts before November.

Should one laugh or cry? Don't do either. Keep watching the show. There are more striptease acts to come as the US presidential elections and the deadline for Musharraf to resign as the chief of the army staff (COAS) approaches. Bush and Tricky Mush need each other. And they both need bin Laden. Bush for winning re-election. Mush for getting US support for his planned violation of the Pakistani constitution in order to be able to continue as the COAS after December 31.

There is another striptease going on in Iraq.

Another show, another day.